Foldable couch



Dec. 22, 1942. F. HAMPTON FOLDABLE COUCH Filed March 14, 1942 INV BN1 OR. FRED HAMPTON ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES OFFICE FOLDABLE COUCH Fred Hampton, Bellerose, N. Y., assignor to Zimets Bed Spring Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to articles of furniture in which the side elements may be extended to form a wider surface than normal, and particularly to beds and couches.

The ordinary folding bed, adapted normally for the use of a single individual in a recumbent position, is frequently provided with a frame having foldable portions whereby the capacity of the couch may be increased.

Such foldable couch frames are arranged in a manner to permit one or both sides to be turned outwardly, independently of each other, thereby consuming considerable time and manual effort in making the adjustments necessary in opening or closing the couch.

Having this matter in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a couch having foldable elements at each side, for extension purposes, that are operable as a unit, one side moving in unison with the other.

A further feature is in the provision of means tending to reduce the labor and time in changing the couch as may be desired.

A further purpose is to produce a simple, but

efficient and practical foldable couch structure,

easily operated by one person, due to the incorporation of springs that materially aid in folding, the entire structure being low in cost to produce and occupying no extra space.

These consequential objects are accomplished by the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter explained and illus trated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a component of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of an embodiment of the invention as in its folded position, the extension elements being shown as raised.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same, the extensions being disposed laterally outward.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevational View of one of the sides of the structure.

In the drawing the numeral 15 designates the upright or leg portions of a couch, the same being connected in pairs at their upper ends by rigid cross bars l6 and provided at their bottoms with the usual casters ll.

These elements, which represent the head and foot portions of the frame, are connected at each side, midway their length, by rails 18 which may be provided with braces 19 connecting with the legs l5, and extending between the bars, at the head and foot, are a plurality of coiled tension springs 20.

Rigidly fastened to each pair of the legs !5,

at points slightly below the rails l 8, are cross bars 22, having at their centers fixed studs 23 on which are pivoted double ended levers 24, normally drawn into upright position by coiled tension springs 25 connected at their respective ends to the levers and legs l5.

A pair of oppositely disposed fiat arched side frames, consisting of end elements 28, integrally connected by longitudinal portions 29, are pivoted at the corner intersections of the legs I 5 and cross bars l6 on pins in such manner as to be raised upright or disposed in level planes, in which latter position they are supported by pivoted members 3| connected by bars 32 reaching to the opposite end of the frame.

Bars 33 are pivotally connected to the legs [5, their opposite ends pivoted to brackets 34 fixed on the members 3|; these bars are actuated by pivoted links 35 near the opposite ends of the levers 24 in such manner that when the levers are in an upright position, the side extensions 28 will be moved into a substantially erect position, and conversely, when the levers 24 are turned into a substantially horizontal position the extensions will be moved into the plane of the bars Hi, all parts being essentially level.

It will be noted that a plurality of springs 20', similar in all respects to the springs 20, extend betweenthe head and foot members 28 of the side elements, thereby affording a wide support for a mattress or like bedding material.

In operation it is merely required that an operator raise or lower the side frames by grasping either of the rails 29 and moving them in the required direction, the opposite side acting in synchronism, due to the lever and link connections.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a foldable couch having stiff head and foot supports and rigid connections therebetween, laterally foldable frames pivoted to the upper corners of said supports at each side, flattened side frame members pivoted to the end elements of said frame on each side thereof, bars fixed to extend across each pair of said supports midway in their height, double ended levers pivoted centrally on said bars, other bars pivoted to the upright elements of said supports near their lower ends and pivoted at their outer ends to said side frame members, and links connecting opposite ends of said double ended levers with said last named bars whereby said frame members may be raised and lowered in unison.

2. In a foldable couch having rigid head and foot end supports, including legs and cross bars at their upper ends, and rigid connections between the leg members at each end, laterally foldable frames pivoted to said supports at the junction of the legs and cross bars on both sides thereof, bars fixed to said legs midway their lengths to extend from side to side, double ended levers pivoted to said bars, other bars pivoted to said legs near their lower ends and to said frames, links connecting the opposite ends of said double ended levers and said last named bars, and tension springs attached to said legs and double ended levers to urge the latter into a normally upright position.

3. In a foldable couch having rigidly connected spaced legs at the head and foot, foldable side extension frames pivoted to said legs near their upper ends, said side extensions including fiat looped members pivoted to the frames, bars pivoted at their respective ends to said legs and flat looped members, other bars extending rigidly between each pair of spaced legs, double ended levers pivoted centrally on said last named bars, links connecting the opposite ends of said double ended levers with said pivoted bars whereby said flat looped members are caused to move in synchronism on both sides of the couch, andtension springs having their ends engaged with said legs and the ends of said double ended levers respectively said springs assisting in moving the side extension frames into an upright position.

FRED HAMPTON. 

